Ankle Subchondroplasty

ankle subchondroplasty

ankle bone marrow edema

Ankle Subchondroplasty is a technique to repair microfractures and bone marrow edema of the ankle. This technique is appropriate for repair of microfractures and bone marrow edema of the bones of the foot as well.

Subchondroplasty is a great procedure for people that have bone marrow defects of bones of the foot and ankle. Have you been diagnosed with a microfracture and have been told there is nothing to do. Have you been diagnosed with stress fractures and have been immobilized in a cast or a cam walker and started walking again and still are having pain. Do you have foot pain that has not had a specific diagnosis and has left your physician scratching their heads and can not figure out what is wrong with you. Many times an X ray will not pick up what is wrong  and will not explain your foot pain. Many times an MRI will just show edema in the bone. It could be you have microfractures of your bones right under the joint and that is the source of your pain.

Accufill

Have you been told you need a joint replacement in the foot or ankle. Have you been told you need a joint fusion in the foot or ankle. Well you may not need such an invasive procedure. The alternative may be what is called a subchondroplasty. Using a minimally invasive technique that may require one or 2 stitches we can inject a bone substitute material into the defect or microfracture such as Zimmer Accufill . This material will  flow into the defect or fracture and crystallize to form a scaffold for the new bone to grow over.

So if you have chronic ankle pain, or have been told you need a ankle fusion or ankle replacement ( or foot joint fusion or joint replacement in the foot). There is a joint sparing and joint preservation procedure available. the subchondroplasty. This is used as well in cartilage grafting procedures that we perform to replace destroyed cartilage in the foot and ankle joints.

So make sure to visit a board certified foot and ankle surgeon that is knowledgeable in these procedures and that can help you on your road to recovery. Feel free to email me with any questions or to make an appointment if this is right for you.